Composer and DMA candidate Young-Jun Lee has been awarded Second Prize in the USA Music Composition and Music Video Production competition, held in June 2025. The recognized work was commissioned and premiered by violinist Haeun Yim (GPD ’25, Piano), cellist Karl Lee (BM ’25, Percussion), and pianist James Hyun (BM ’25, Percussion).
The world premiere took place in December 2024 at Emmanuel Church in Baltimore, as part of a concert curated by the composer himself, titled Stepping to the Next Stone. This special event showcased works by DMA and DIP students from the studio of Felipe Lara at the Peabody Conservatory, alongside compositions by Lara himself. The program celebrated the collaborative spirit between composers soon departing academia and graduating performers, marking a significant milestone in their professional journeys.